The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Project has awarded the Virgin Islands Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiative a $64,458 grant. The USVI PSN Task Force will use the grant to support local law enforcement efforts and projects contributing to violence prevention and intervention. The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has agreed to serve as the fiscal agent for this initiative, according to a press release issued Monday by U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert.
Local law enforcement agencies/departments, social service-providing entities, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, community boards, religious institutions and schools are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to projects that strengthen community outreach and engagement within the territory’s public housing communities where large numbers of violent crimes are occurring.
Applicants will be expected to describe how their efforts will support one or more of the PSN priorities, such as effective intervention and outreach to support public safety in public housing communities, such as the Bovoni Public Housing Community.
To submit an application for consideration, interested persons must complete the online forms available. For law enforcement agencies, applications are sent to http://bit.ly/PSNLEEgrantapp and for agencies and organizations applying to support outreach and prevention efforts, applications should be sent to http://bit.ly/PSNOPgrantapp. The deadline for applications in Nov. 18, 2018.
“The grant solicitation process is an important component of our PSN strategy in the territory,” Shappert said. “This is a process by which interested law enforcement agencies, local public service agencies, non-profits and other community organization can receive funding to optimize their public safety and community outreach efforts. We are grateful for our collaboration with CFVI in this initiative.”
Individuals with questions about the grant solicitation process can contact CFVI’s Khadija De Lagarde, grants and programs manager, at kdelagarde@cfvi.net or the U.S. Attorney’s Office.